Nailers acquire former RMU forward Zac Lynch

Zac Lynch skating with Robert Morris against Air Force in 2015. -- BRIAN MITCHELL

Zac Lynch is headed back to the Pittsburgh area, and will be part of the Pittsburgh Penguins organization for the 2018-19 season.

Lynch, a Pittsburgh native who played for the Pittsburgh Hornets and attended Shaler High School before spending four years becoming the leading scorer in Robert Morris history, had his ECHL rights traded from the Manchester Monarchs to the Wheeling Nailers on Monday. Lynch then signed a one-year, ECHL contract with the Penguins’ Double-A affiliate.

“This is very exciting for me, as I will be near my hometown of Pittsburgh and near my family and friends,” Lynch said in a press release. “I watched the organization a lot growing up, and I am humbled to be part of such a storied team. I pride myself on being a solid two-way player. Special teams are a big part of my game, and my ability to score has driven me every year to produce more. My goal is to better myself, while also pushing my teammates to get better.”

He spent his first two pro seasons in the Los Angeles Kings organization. He had four goals and three assists in 36 AHL games, split over three stints. He also was nearly a point-per-game player in the ECHL for the Monarchs, scoring 40 goals and adding 40 assists in 92 games.

“Zac is an established scorer at this level,” new Nailers head coach Mark Dennehy said in a press release. “We couldn’t be happier to bring him home to the Pittsburgh area.”

Fellow former RMU forwards Cody Wydo and Daniel Leavens played for the Nailers in 2017-18. Leavens was traded. Wydo remains a free agent.

With 157 career points, Lynch passed Wydo’s as RMU’s all-time leading scorer as a senior in 2016. His record was broken last spring by Brady Ferguson, who will be playing this season under an AHL contract with the Toronto Marlies.

The Nailers have been the Penguins’ Double-A affiliate since the 1998-99 season.